Sarıkışla (District)

What if you were to travel to the heart of Sivas, a place where folk songs never fall silent and every handful of soil holds a story thousands of years old? This is Şarkışla, the homeland of our renowned minstrel, Aşık Veysel!

The history of Şarkışla stretches back to the distant Neolithic era, when humans first crafted tools from stone. Flint scrapers found in villages near the district whisper of human presence here for millennia. Even a tiny bronze figurine from the ancient Hittite civilization has been unearthed in this region. This small statue is now carefully preserved in a museum in Ankara.

When speaking of Şarkışla, we cannot fail to mention our world-famous minstrel, Aşık Veysel. Despite his visual impairment, this great artist saw the world through love—with what he called the “eye of the heart.” He was born in the village of Sivrialan in Şarkışla. His famous saz, photographs, and personal belongings are now exhibited in the museum in his village. Every year, during the annual festivals, people of all ages gather and sing his beautiful folk songs in unison.

^{Visual representation of Şarkışla (District), generated by artificial intelligence.}

The founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, once visited Şarkışla during a trip to Sivas. Here, a remarkable event demonstrated his deep commitment to education. Atatürk brought a blackboard, took chalk in hand, and personally taught the local schoolteacher the new Turkish alphabet. This event remains a cherished and proud memory for the people of Şarkışla.

^【1】Şarkışla lies on a vast plateau approximately 1,180 meters above sea level, surrounded by majestic mountains. The Kızılırmak, Türkiye’s longest river, winds gently through the district. In winter, these lands are covered in pure white snow, but when spring arrives, they are transformed into a lush green carpet. While wandering here, you may also encounter colorful kilims and warm woolen socks, handcrafted with care and artistry.